Wednesday, 21 December 2016

In "SPECTRE" (2015), the new M is forced to suspend Bond following his rogue mission in Mexico. He comes under serious pressure from within the intelligence services when the Double-0 section is under threat from a new initiative called Nine Eyes, headed by C. After discovering that the terrorist organisation Spectre is behind Nine Eyes, M and Q succeed in stopping its activation but a subsequent struggle between M and C results in C falling to his death. M then goes on to arrest Spectre villain Blofeld on Westminster Bridge.Read more hereSource and photos: 007.com

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

It’s a long way from making props for James Bond movies to developing state-of-the art virtual reality goggles. Then again, Ralph Osterhout has had more than three decades to get from Point A to Point VR.

Along the way, he has made diving gear, small submarines and night-vision glasses for the military. He even made a ceramic weapon that President Nixon’s secret service could use on his trip to China, where guns weren’t allowed.

“Crazy stuff like that,” Osterhout said as he recalled his earliest days, getting to know the stand-ins on the set of “The Spy Who Loved Me”(1977). Making working props for Bond films in the 1970s helped launch Osterhout’s career making the impossible gadgets of science fiction into reality.

Osterhout designed and built equipment that appeared in or on:"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), propulsion system on submarine car and chase mini-subs."Never Say Never Again" (1983), underwater vehicles that transported bad guy’s atomic warheads. (Wikipedia)

Mira Söderlund, General ManagerJonna Anttilainen, Hotel ManagerJenni and the whole personnel of the hotel BOOK A ROOM HERE

Lapland Sky Hotel Ounasvaara (named Ounasvaara Polar Hotel at the time when "Icebreaker" (1983) book was written) is located in the Ounasvaara Winter Sports Center and it is the perfect holiday destination when visiting Lapland. The center of Rovaniemi is only three kilometers from the hotel and you can reach the airport of Rovaniemi, official airport of Santa Claus, in 15 minutes. Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus!

007 Travelers felt warmly welcomed by hotel´s wonderful Jenni. She told us about the hotel and Rovaniemi, and she was very helpful during our whole staying.

Jenni in the reception

We gave the hotel "Icebreaker" Bond book where the hotel is mentioned.

Jenni gave us our room key and we were happy with our room. There are 71 rooms in the hotel on two floors. 007 Travelers got a room on second floor, which was a superior room for three persons including own sauna. There was nice winter view from our room´s window and if you are lucky enough, it is possible to see northern lights from your window.

If you don't have own sauna in your room, it is possible to use hotel´s public sauna, which can be found on the second floor.

Public sauna

You can watch beautiful northern lights from SKY terrace which is located on the roof of the hotel and feel the magic of the sky. The terrace is open 24 hours a day. You have to give the special code to be able to go the terrace. It is free of charge for people staying in the hotel or visitors of restaurant or cafe. For others cost is two euros.

During winter time you can ski down the hill and on summer time do the same with mountain bikes or just by walking or running the hill up and down. Lappish nature is awesome no matter what is the time of the year!

Map for Ounasvaara's winter walking route

There is a nice lobby bar where you can feel the heat of fireplace and you can buy different kind of nice souvenirs from the shop.

Hotel offers excellent settings for having conferences even for larger groups.

Pirita / 007 Travelers ready for hotel´s dinner

Mika / 007 Travelersgoing to have a great dinner

007 Travelers had dinner in this wonderful fine dining restaurant Sky Ounasvaara, where the food is really tasty and excellent!

First we had Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Apple and Roasted Peanuts, which the kitchen sent to welcome us there.

For main course, Pirita had Gnocchi made of Lappish Potatoes and Mushrooms with Brown Butter and Parmesan Cheese (24 €)

Personnel is really kind and in the restaurant, if you order e.g. fish, waitresses even know what was the name of the fisherman who caught the fish! :)

Breakfast is served on the second floor and it was really lovely including some Lappish delicacies as well.

007 Travelers found also more 007 connections:

"Arriving back in the early hours, he slipped into the Ounasvaara Polar Hotel - where Saab had their Winter Driving Headquarters - left a message for Erik Carlsson saying he would send full instructions regarding the movement of Silver Beast, then hitched a lift to the airport and boarded the next flight to Helsinki. At that point his plan was to catch a connection straight on to London."

John Gardner: "Icebreaker" There was even Bond's Saab "Silver Beast" parked in the garage of the hotel :)

007 Travelers on Radio Nova

007 TRAVELERS INTERVIEW

007 TRAVELERS INTERVIEW

About us

Pirita and Mika, Finland´s first and only James Bond bloggers, travel around the world, searching for 007 filming locations and places from Bond books, introducing 007 hotels and 007 restaurants, collecting 007 stuff and exploring interesting tourist attractions of Bond cities since 2010. We provide also the latest Bond news. In order to co-operate, interview or invite us to make a 007 travel story (city, hotel, restaurant, tourist attraction etc.), please contact us by email: agenttimatkaaja@gmail.com